Ralph Talks About Senate

Local Television Personality Capenera Plans To Announce Candidacy For 9th District On Feb. 7.

January 28, 2004|By ANN MARIE SOMMA; Courant Staff Writer

ROCKY HILL — Ralph Capenera has gone through several incarnations in his lifetime. He's been an Elvis impersonator and banquet hall director, and most recently the host of ``Ralph Talk,'' a talk show on the community public access channel.

Now at 45, Capenera wants to be a state senator.

On Feb. 7, Capenera will informally announce his intention to run for the 9th Senate District seat, a post held by longtime incumbent Biagio ``Billy'' Ciotto.

A registered Democrat, Capenera has not decided which party he'll run with. He has until May 15 to pick a party and file paperwork with the Secretary of the State's office, he said.

``Right now I'm not even thinking about what party because to me it's not about parties, it's about people,'' Capenera said.

Capenera said he's running to fix a system run amok with state politicians who pander to special interests, awarding them lucrative state contracts and high-level state jobs. And he wants to stop runaway state spending.

He won't accept campaign contributions from lobbyists and political action committees during the race and once in office, he said.

``My vote as a senator is never going to be for sale. My only special interest is going to be the people,'' Capenera said.

Capenera is setting a fund-raising goal of $150,000 to run for office. He's asking supporters to pay $250 to attend his Feb. 7 fund-raiser to get his campaign in ``high gear and keep it there,'' according to his fund-raising letter.

``If we are ever going to get the representation we deserve, we've got to get the dirty money out of politics,'' he said.

Capenera's likely challenger, Ciotto, a Democrat, said Capenera should choose a party.

``He's asking people to contribute to his fund-raiser without knowing if he's running as a Democrat or Republican,'' Ciotto said. ``I'm a Democrat and I believe in the philosophies of the party.''

Ciotti is serving his fifth term in the district, which comprises Cromwell, Newington and Rocky Hill as well as parts of Middletown and Wethersfield.

Ciotto, 74, of Wethersfield, was first elected in 1994 and has easily won re-election since, beating most of his opponents by a 2-1 ratio. He chairs the legislature's transportation committee.

Capenera says he has the votes and name recognition to win the seat. He's been the host for almost a decade of ``Ralph Talk,'' a popular show on Channel 14 and 15 that showcases debates and discussions among local and state politicians.

The show reaches viewers in Rocky Hill, Newington, Manchester, Wethersfield, Glastonbury and South Windsor.

``I've always enjoyed helping people. Many consider me the voice of the people when their government hasn't paid attention to them. I feel I could take this to the state level. I truly want to help people,'' Capenera said.

Capenera moved to Rocky Hill five years ago. He was a resident of Wethersfield for 30 years. His family owned Capra's Banquet facility on the Berlin Turnpike. In 1991, Capenera and his wife, Barbara, opened Consignment Originals, a consignment store in town.